Qualified by running fifth in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials

Gulfstream Five is the richest son out of the outstanding broodmare Jetsetting Girl, who died at the age of 21 four months ago. Gulfstream Five has earned his more than $230,000 thanks to his qualifying efforts in the Los Alamitos Million Futurity and runner-up efforts in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby and PCQHRA Breeders Derby. Sired by Fishers Dash, Gulfstream Five has participated in eight graded stakes races in his career. Gulfstream Five has made only four starts this year but three of those outings have come at 400 yards. Scott Willoughby has saddled Gulfstream Five in his last two outings, first when he ran third to Gold Medal Jess in the Grade 3 First Down Dash Handicap and then in his fifth place finish in the Z. Wayne Griffin. Both of those starts were at 400 yards. "I learned a lot about Gulfstream Five in the First Down Dash Handicap and I learned a little more about him after the Z. Wayne Griffin," said Willoughby. "He's never raced at 440 yards but he's always been competitive at 400 yards. I think he'll do well in the Champion of Champions." Gulfstream Five's apperance in the Champion of Champions is perfect way to honor Jetsetting Girl. Allred claimed her for $4,000 from trainer Bob Baffert in the late 1980s. Allred immediately retired her from racing, a move that allowed her to become one of the staples in Allred's outstanding breeding operation. Jetsetting Girl has since produced 16 foals of racing age. Nine of them earned Registers of Merit. Her progeny include the Raise A Secret stallion Bridlewood, winner of the California Breeders Sophomore Stakes and an earner of $191,358. Bridlewood ran second in the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity and as a sophomore he was the California Hi Point Three-Year-Old Colt. Jetsetting Girl is also the dam of the Raise A Secret filly Girl Secrets, a winner of seven races and earnings of $177,552. Jetsetting Girl's lineage on her bottom side traces back to the great Jet Deck. Her dam was Jet Together, who was the dam of Broodmare Of the Year Separate Ways.

Scott Willoughby , who has won 25 Quarter Horse races at this meeting as of December 6, is on his first year as trainer for top owner Ed Allred.

Gulfstream Five will be Willoughby's first ever starter in the Champion of Champions. "It's fun to have a horse in the Champion of Champions and I'm proud to be able to saddle a horse for Dr. Allred in this race." As a child, Scott Willoughby had some very large shoes to fill. Not only was he the son of trainer Bob Willoughby, but he was also the nephew of the legendary Walter Merrick. Bob Willoughby is best remembered as the trainer who started Easy Jet on his phenomenal race career. Willoughby trained Easy Jet to a stakes win in the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Futurity at Arapahoe Park in Colorado. Walter Merrick is also known as Easy Jet's trainer, as he took over the duties prior to the colt's victory in the 1969 All American Futurity. "I never felt any pressure to even be a trainer, but this is just what we do," said Scott, who started training in 1989. "Dad taught me basically everything I know. This is all I've ever done." One of the horses that put the trainer on the map was Streakin Victory, a top 870 yard runner. Scott claimed Streakin Victory for $6,250 at Ruidoso Downs before the gelding posted several solid seasons of stakes competition. Scott's other top horses this year include He Storms, Future Father and Go And Hide. Willoughby saddled Heza Secret Diamond to victory in the 2004 Ed Burke Futurity winner.

AQHA Hall of Famer Ed Allred, a nine-time champion breeder and six-time champion owner, is one of the most influential people in Quarter Horse racing history. Allred is the owner of Los Alamitos Race Course and part-owner of Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. He was also part of the original ownership group that operated Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico. Allred also runs, in partnership with Vessels Stallion Farm, the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, which is California's premier Quarter Horse Yearling and Mixed Stock Sale. "I think I am a fairly eclectic Quarter Horse guy," said Allred, winner of the 1973 Champion of Champions. "I am involved in breeding on a large scale and in racing my own horses. I like trying to raise good horses. I love racing in general and Quarter Horse racing in particular is my real love. The modern Quarter Horse is my ideal and the people in this game have been just wonderful. I have made so made so many great friends. I love the people in this sport. Los Alamitos is the end of my contribution and the biggest I could ever hope to make. But I never set out with any idea I would be able to own this place or anything like that. It would have been preposterous for me to ever this so, but it fell to my lot and I thank God that I have been able to find the means to do it."

A long time friend of Quarter Horse racing, Johnny T.L. Jones won, in partnership with R.D. Hubbard and Country Music star Toby Keith, the 2003 Champion of Champions with The Down Side. Jones and his good friend Hubbard also won the 1998 Ruidoso Horse Sale Futurity (G1) with First Down Bounce and the '99 Rainbow Derby (G1) with My Dashing Lady, one of world champion Dash For Cash's final foals. Born and raised in Quanah, Texas, Jones trained 1967 Kansas Futurity winner Jet Smooth for legendary Quarter Horseman Walter Merrick. In 1978, Jones joined with several other prominent horsemen to establish the Heritage Place Sales Company in Oklahoma City.